quintessence

[ kwin-tes-uhns ]

noun

1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
2. the most perfect embodiment of something.
3. (in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.

quintessence

/ kwɪnˈtɛsəns /

noun

1. the most typical representation of a quality, state, etc
2. an extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form
3. (in ancient and medieval philosophy) ether, the fifth and highest essence or element after earth, water, air, and fire, which was thought to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things

Other Words From

• quin·tes·sen·tial [kwin-t, uh, -, sen, -sh, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintessence¹

1400–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin quīnta essentia fifth essence

Word History and Origins

Origin of quintessence¹

C15: via French from Medieval Latin quinta essentia the fifth essence, translation of Greek pemptē ousia

Example Sentences

That, America, is the quintessence of naturally occurring British-cute.

From The Daily Beast

The actor is the quintessence of smooth, first as Remington Steele, then James Bond.

From The Daily Beast

In recent years, Stoner entered a category of which it soon became the quintessence.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, Holmes was the quintessence of the Victorian rationalism, “the most perfect and reasoning machine that the world had seen.”

From The Daily Beast

“Innocence is the quintessence of the snapshot,” Lisette Model would write.

From The Daily Beast

Preserve this precious quintessence of mercury, which is exceedingly volatile, in a well-closed vessel for further use.

From Project Gutenberg

This drama is the quintessence of all that Gorky has, up to this time, written on the "ex-man," whom he has thoroughly "explored."

From Project Gutenberg

Only as a subscriber, possessing a numbered set of a limited edition, could one obtain the quintessence of literature.

From Project Gutenberg

They are the quaint quintessence of conservatism, and will occupy youthful minds menaced by modernism.

From Project Gutenberg

Ten beds, and only one occupied, by a freckled, tousled quintessence of fractiousness in a blue wrapper.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apotheosis